Eastwood riding high after thrilling win over Northern Suburbs

Tom Hill’s clutch kick seals 21-20 victory for Eastwood

Eastwood and Northern Suburbs players fight for a lineup during their round nine Shute Shield clash. Pictures: Paul Cross/SPORTSPICS

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Tom Hill has kicked Eastwood to its sixth win of the Shute Shield season, converting a 40m penalty goal after the siren to cement a 21-20 victory over Northern Suburbs at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.

Both sides settled quickly into the arm wrestle as they fought on both sides of the ball to gain the early momentum.

It took 20 minutes for the first points to come in the form of a penalty goal to Norths’ Angus Sinclair.

The home side were unable to inflict further pain, however, with another 15 scoreless minutes passing before the first try of the game was scored via an intercept from Eastwood’s inside centre Hill.

The Woods kept their noses in front well into the second half as both teams continued to battle for ascendancy.

The heavy-hitting matchup was one of the best of the Shute Shield season so far.

It eventually came for Norths when Eastwood hooker Hugh Roach was sent to the bin for repeat offending.

Norths capitalised on the extra-man advantage in the 55th minute with a try to Josh Noonan putting the home side back in front.

The lead was short lived as an Eastwood penalty goal just minutes later levelled the scores at 8-8.

After both sides struggled to find the line for the first 60 minutes, the floodgates finally opened for the last quarter of the game with five-pointers being traded seemingly at will.

Hill’s boot proved to ultimately be the deciding factor in the contest, slotting a penalty goal in the dying seconds to hand the visitors the victory in one of the most thrilling matches of the season.

Eastwood face Sydney University at TG Millner Field on Saturday.